Medical tablet container



Mrch 19, 1940. CQNNER 2,194,009 I MEDICAL TABLET CONTAINER Filed May 24,1938 INT/E172: 0r Berg 5min F Conner j 'mtz'zarngy Patented Mai-.19,1940 Permit caries I 2,194,009 MEDICAL TABLET conremnn Benjamin F.Conner, West Hartford, Conn, assignor to Colts Patent Fire ArmsManufacturing Company, Hartford, Conn, a corpora- 7 tion of ConnecticutApplication May 24, 1938, Serial No. 209,741

3 Claims.

The invention relates to a medical tablet container, and moreparticularly to a tablet container which may be conveniently carried ina mans pocket or ladys handbag.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a tablet containerof attractive design comprising a minimum of parts which may beinexpensively manufactured and assembled, and which is so constructedthat it can be easily held in and opened and closed with one hand.

A further object is to provide a tablet container which is soconstructed as to hold a predetermined number of tablets insubstantially abutting relationship with one tablet in alignment with adispensing opening in the container.

From the following disclosure other objects and advantages of theinvention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In the accompanying drawing I have shown the embodiment of the inventionwhich I now deem preferable but it will be understood that the drawingis intended for illustrative purposes only and is not to be relied uponas limiting or defining the scope of the invention, the claims forming apart of this specification being relied upon for this purpose.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a container embOdying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan View of the container.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the container, certain portions beingbroken away to more clearly illustrate the construction.

Fig. 4 isa cross-sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 4 but showing the tablets in thecontainer.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the manner in which thecontainer can be opened and closed with one hand.

, A container made in accordance with the principles of the inventionpreferably comprises a base member I and a cover member 2, but it shouldbe understood that these terms are used merely to facilitate descriptionand not in a limiting manner. These members are preferably molded from amaterial of the synthetic resin class as certain of the constructionalfeatures of the invention are particularly adapted to be incorporated ina molded container.

The cover member includes a depending circular flange 3 having adispensing opening 4 therethrough. The molded base member is shallow andopen-topped and is preferably so dimensioned as to receive only a singlelayer of (Cl. 206 l2) tablets. It comprises animpericrate circularbottom and integrally molded means 5 upstanding from the bottom forminga low-side wall,

and in the now preferred form the side wall is cylindrical.

internal surface of the flange on the cover membeer to form mutualbearing surfaces. When the base'and cover members are assembled as shownthey constitute a thin container and one of the A dispensing opening 5is provided in the side wall and it extendsthe full height membersmay berotated relatively to the other so as to align the dispensing openings 3and 6 or to completely misalign them, in which latter case a portion. ofthe upstanding means on the base member serves to close the opening 4.-The base and cover members are preferably serrated adjacent their edgesas indicated at 'I. As shown in Fig. 6, the container may be easily heldbetween the thumb and first two fingers of one hand due to. its thinnessand it may be easily opened and closed while being so held, theserrations I serving to increase the friction between the fingers andthe container.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the base and covermembers are provided with shoulders which interlock when the members arein assembled relationship. These shoulders prevent relative movement ofthe members in a separative direction and may constitute the sole meansfor preventing disassembly of the members. In the form shown thedepending flange 3 has a groove 8 formed in its inner surface, the upperside wall of groove ii forming a shoulder which interlocks with ashoulder or bead 9 provided on the outer surface of'the upstandingflange 5. This construction for holding the base and cover membersassembled is particularly desirable when the members are formed frommolded synthetic resin because there is a suificient flexibility to theflanges so that they can be assembled by simply forcing them together. I

The cover and base members are preferably provided with cooperatingshoulders for limiting their relative rotation between a position inwhich the dispensing openings dand t are aligned (as in Fig. 4) and aposition in which they are completely misaligned (as in Fig. 5). Asshown, a lug it may be provided which is engageable with the end wallsof a groove l l in the flange 5.

The tablet container is primarily intended to be used by tabletmanufacturers as an original container for holding a predeterminednumber of tablets, such as aspirin. If the tablets are allowed anysubstantial relative movement they tend to powder during shipment due torough handling. In order to prevent this the upstanding means on thebase member may be so constructed as to allow only a predeterminednumber of tablets to be placed in the container and so as to hold thesetablets in substantially abutting relationship. In the now preferredconstruction the upstanding means includes projections I2. As shown inFig. 5, these projections hold the tablets against any substantiallyrelative movement and also cause them to assume a definite pattern inthe container so that one tablet is in alignment with the dispensingopening 6. From Fig. 5 it will be apparent that the first tablet may beeasily removed from the container and that shaking the container willthen break up the tablet pattern so that the remaining tablets may beremoved.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes maybe made within the scope of the claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a medical tablet container, the combination of a molded shallowopen-topped member adapted to receive only a single layer of tablets andcomprising a molded imperforate circular bottom and integrally moldedmeans upstanding from the bottom forming a side wall having a dispensingopening therethrough from top to bottom, said means including portionspositioned to confine a predetermined number of tablets within saidopen-topped member in substantially abutting relationship with onetablet in alignment with said dispensing opening, and a molded covermember having a depending flange with a dispensing opening therethroughand telescopically receiving said upstanding means in closely fittingrelationship to form mutual bearing surfaces so that said members may berelatively rotated between positions in which said dispensing openingsare completely aligned or misaligned, said open-topped member anddepending flange being provided with interlocking shoulders forpreventing their relative movement in the separative direction andconstituting the sole means for preventing their disassembly.

2. In a. medical tablet container, the combination of a molded shallowopen-topped member adapted to receive only a single layer of tablets andcomprising a molded imperforate circular bottom, an integrally moldedcylindrical flange upstanding from the bottom forming a side wall havinga dispensing opening therethrough from top to bottom, and a plurality ofintegrally molded projections upstanding from the bottom positioned toconfine a predetermined number of tablets within said open-topped memberin substantially abutting relationship with one tablet in alignment withsaid dispensing opening, with a molded cover member having a dependingcylindrical flange with a dispensing opening therethrough andtelescopically receiving said side wall in closely fitting relationshipto form mutual bearing surfaces so that said members may be relativelyrotated between positions in which said dispensing openings arecompletely aligned or misaligned, said members being provided withinterlocking shoulders for preventing their relative movement in theseparative direction and constituting the sole means for preventingtheir disassembly.

3. In a medical tablet container, the combination of a molded shallowopen-topped member adapted to receive only a single layer of tablets insubstantially abutting relationship and comprising a molded imperforatecircular bottom, an integrally molded cylindrical flange up-standingfrom the bottom forming a side wall having a dispensing openingtherethrough from top to bottom, and two integrally molded ribsupstanding from the bottom and converging toward said dispensing openingto position a tablet in alignment with said dispensing opening, with amolded cover member having a depending cylindrical flange with adispensing opening therethrough and telescopically receiving said sidewall in closely fitting relationship to form mutual bearing surfaces sothat said members may be relatively rotated between positions in whichsaid dispensing openings are completely aligned or misaligned, saidmembers being provided with interlocking shoulders for preventing theirrelative movement in the separative direction and constituting the solemeans for preventing their disassembly.

BENJAMIN F. CONNER.

